Top 10 Best Love, Death & Robots Episodes

Reminiscent of “Wall-E”, "Automated Customer Service" finds humanity made lazy by a world of technological convenience. Everywhere you turn, there’s a robot doing the heavy lifting. When an aging woman's housekeeping robot turns on her however, poor customer service and technical support forces her into action for fear of her life. While Season 2’s “Life Hutch” deals with a similar concept, “Automated Customer Service” proves that cute animation can still deliver superior commentary. It really takes us to task for our over reliance on gadgets. It’s also a scathing indictment of failure by design and the way in which big tech abuses its power. Most importantly though, it’s just a lot of fun.

You wouldn’t expect one of the show’s funniest episodes to also be among its most insightful, but “Three Robots” performs an impressive balancing act. The episode centers on a trio of robots navigating the wreckage of a city. As it quickly becomes clear, this urban setting is not an outlier or isolated disaster zone—humanity is a thing of the past. While the apocalypse is generally dark subject matter, these synthetic characters bring a lot of heart to the end of the world. The episode is beautifully animated by Blow Studios, but it doesn’t shy away from the more gruesome aspects of this doomsday scenario either. Of course, for all the robotic one-liners—humorous and insightful—it’s really the cat that makes this episode tick.

Among the show’s most divisive episodes, “The Witness” crams a whole lot into its 12 minute running time. The animation is breathtaking; the studio behind it, Pinkman.TV, certainly made the most of this Netflix showcase. But right from the episode’s opening seconds, we’re immediately subjected to flashes of graphic violence. After witnessing a murder, a young woman is pursued by the killer to her place of work—which happens to be a sex club. Without giving too much away, let’s just say this episode will leave you scratching your head. From start to finish, from sex to violence, everything about “The Witness” feels excessive, but it sure leaves a lasting impression.

The second contribution to the series by Passion Animation Studios, “Ice” has a unique visual style that immediately pulls the viewer in. Honestly, the amount of worldbuilding that the writers managed to squeeze into this 13 minute episode is downright astounding. Set on an frigid and unforgiving planet, “Ice” follows two brothers attempting to find a place for themselves in the local social order. Here, seemingly the entire population has received modifications to give them superhuman augmentations, except one of the two brothers. A familiar story of youth and the struggle to fit in, transposed into a wholly unfamiliar world, “Ice” packs quite the punch. And it’s got intense, monochromatic visuals to match!

At what point do we stop calling something “animation” and just recognize it as simulated reality? “Snow in the Desert” is top of its class when it comes to animation. It’s so photorealistic that, at times, you might forget that it’s not, in fact, a live action film with some impressive CGI. Though the visuals are distractingly good, this episode is more than just eye candy—it’s got something to say! The story centers on Snow, an albino man hiding out on a barren planet from bounty hunters hired by a merchant looking to exploit his regenerative abilities. An exploration of loneliness with action and gore to spare, “Snow in the Desert” feels like a feature length film crammed into 18 minutes. It’s great, but it definitely leaves you wanting more.

In a nice departure from the largely futuristic settings of most episodes, “Good Hunting” opens in China in the early 1900s. Here, we follow a father and son as they hunt a mythological Huli jing—a shapeshifter that appears as a beautiful woman, a vulpine creature, and a mix of both. The whole thing initially feels out of place in the series, but the action and emotion of it all pulls you in nonetheless. Halfway through the episode, however, we jump forward into more of a steampunk vibe. Here, like the setting, the narrative is turned upside down. This is the story of an unlikely bond that spans many years, and the way it navigates subjects like abuse, tradition and responsibility is astounding.

Fun fact: season one of “Love, Death & Robots” plays in a different order depending on the Netflix user’s viewing preferences and tastes. Even so, “Sonnie’s Edge” often wound up being the first episode that people saw. And what a place to begin! Boasting impressive visuals, this captivating story centers on an underground fighting ring where humans control fearsome creatures in brutal combat. That alone would be enough to hold our attention for a 17 minute running time, but we’re then hit with a series of twists and turns that will leave even the savviest of viewers reeling. It’s quite the one-two punch and remains one of the show’s strongest episodes to date.

One of the great things about “Love, Death & Robots” is that, with every episode, you never really know what to expect. When this episode opens, you feel like you’re stepping into a hardboiled detective story. Then… you realize what’s really going on. “Pop Squad” is set in a future where people can live forever. The price? It’s strictly forbidden to have children. Those who disregard this law must watch as… well, you can probably guess. Our protagonist enforces these regulations for a living, but after a particularly heartbreaking assignment, he begins to feel conflicted. It’s arguably the darkest episode in the series but also among the show’s most powerful.

For those who like to see animation pushed to its limits, this was the benchmark by which other episodes were judged in season one. More than just a CGI feast for the eyes, however, “Beyond The Aquila Rift” is really firing on all cylinders. In just 17 minutes, it changes course more than once, keeping you on your toes the whole way. Just when you think you have a grasp on the true nature of the story, it throws you for another curveball. We don’t want to spoil anything, but “Beyond The Aquila Rift” is really a triumph of short form sci-fi horror storytelling.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Helping Hand”
It’s One of the Toughest Episodes to Watch, But It’s Also Hard to Look Away!

“Lucky 13”
Who Knew You Could Form Such an Emotional Connection with a Dropship?

“Sucker of Soul”
Unique Animation, Charismatic Heroes and A Bloodsucking Fiend? What More Could You Want?

"All Through the House"
The Night Before Christmas Meets Alien. Next Time You Hear Sleigh Bells… Stay in Bed!

Before “Ice”, Passion Animation Studios established themselves as the creative team to beat with “Zima Blue”. It’s perhaps appropriate then, that “Zima Blue” is such a unique exploration of legacy, identity and artistry in an increasingly advanced technological world. Following the life of an artist, Zima, and his transformation into something truly larger than life, this episode is quite the head trip. A sobering journey through humanity and the cosmos, “Zima Blue” is an episode that benefits from repeat viewings. Upon each rewatch, it reveals some new little detail or opportunity for interpretation. For anyone who’s ever dreamed of leaving their mark on history or longed to go further, this is a mandatory viewing.